Morris kassmater



2 Sheets-#Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

M'. K'ASSMAYER. FQLDING TOP POR VEHICLES.

Patented Maf-15,' 189B.;

/ /A/vg/vrol? M W/ TNE SSE S A TTOHNEYS.

7N: ohms Prrsnsc, PHaTaLlTNa. wAsHma'roN, n c;

2 sheetsfsheen 2. v

(No Model.)V

` M. iKAS'SMAYE-R.

FOLDING 3301 PoR VEHICLES.-

NO. 600.724. vPfmmed Mar. 1,5, `,1898.

A TTOHNE YS.

W/ TNE SSE S me Nunms Pzzus co., PuoYcMJTHo, WASHINGTON, p. C..

IINrrn MORRIS KASSMAYER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGN OR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE-HALF TO JOHAN DOIINAL AND SIGMUND COI-IN, OF SAME PLACE.

FOLDING TOP FOR VEHICLES.

SPEClFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 600,724, dated March 15, 189B.

Application filed December 14, 1897. Serial No. 661,831. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, MORRIS KAssMAYER, a subject of the Emperor of Austria, residing in New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Folding Top for Vehicles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved vehicle folding top arranged to permit the occupant of the vehicle to conveniently andquickl'y raise or lower the top without leaving the seat, the top when lowered being completely folded within the seat-casing.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication,

in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the improvement as applied and folded up and with the seat proper removed. Fig. 2 is a like view of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3 and showing the top extended. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the improvement on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged edge view of part of the actuating mechanism, and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same.

On the vehicle-body A is held a seat B, formed with a base B' and an outward casing B2, which extends a suitable distance upward and follows approximately the outlines of the usual seat. Within the casing B2 is adapted to fold the top C from above when not in use, as indicated in Fig. 1. The base B' of the seat supports brackets B3 for the seat B4 proper, and in the rear of the said brackets are guidearms B5, between which and the inner surface of the casing folds the top C, so that the latter does not come in contact with the occupants on the seat. The top Ois made with a lower folding section O', a middle non-collapsible section O2, and an upper or top section C3, having an extension section or hood O4, which may or may not be used.

The rigid non-collapsible section C2 is provided with two end bows Oand a middle bow C, attached to brackets O7, secured to the ends of the bows O5, to form the bows for this section into a rigid frame, covered in the usual manner by a fabric or other suitable material. The ends of the bows C5 are ful- `crumed on pivots D, extending outwardly The lower ends of the bars'E are formed into racks E' in mesh with gear-wheels F, secured on a transversely-extending shaft F', journaled in suitable bearings attached to the base B', and on the said shaft F is secured a bevel gear-wheel F2 in mesh with a bevel gearwheel F3, attached to a lon, 3;itudinallyextenda ing shaft F4, likewise mounted to turn in suitable bearings attached to the base B'. The outer square end of the shaft F4 is adapted to receive a crank F5 under the control of the operator for turning the said shaft F4 and causing the bevel gear-wheels F3 F2 to rotate the shaft F', which by the gear wheels F meshing into the racks E' causes an up and down sliding of the bars E, according to the direction in which the crank-arm F5 is turned.

The top section O3 is likewise made non-col lapsible, but is fitted to slide over the upper portion of the non-collapsible section O', as indicated in Fig. 1, and this top' section O3 is provided with bows O8, secured at their ends on collars G, mounted to turn loosely on the pivots D.

Each of the collars G is provided with a crank-arm G', pivotally connected with a rod G2, extending downwardly and carrying near its lowerend a nut G3, adapted to abut against the under side of a bearing G4 for the lower end of the rod G2 to limit the upward movement of the latter at the time the bars E move into an uppermost position.

Now it is evident that when the bars E are raised, as previously explained, the .several sections of the top are carried upward with the said bars, and when the nuts G3 of the rods G2 move in contact with the bearings G4 then a swinging motion is given to the crank- IOO arm G, the collar G, and the bows C8 upon the farther upward movement of the bars E, so that the top section C3 is caused to swing forward to uncover the upper part of the section'C and to impart a swinging motion to the latter by a flexible connection C10, reaching from the forward bow C8 to the uppermost bow C5 of the section C', as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 2.

The outermost bows C8 of the top section C3 are rigidly connected with each other by a fixed arm C9 to prevent the section from collapsing. The hood C4 is collapsible, and its part-s are adapted to be held in a stretched position by the usual locking-links C11, con` necting the outermost bow C8 with the outer-4 most bow C12 of the hood or extension-section C4. This hood may be used or not, as previously explained, and it is drawn out by hand from the end of the section C3 and locked in place by the links C, as before mentioned. The bows C12 of this extension-section or hood are mounted to swing loosely on the pivots D.

The forward end of the hood is provided with a flange C3 for covering the folded section within the box-casing B2 when the top is folded therein, as shown in Fig. 1, and the sides of the extension C4 are formed with flaps C14 for covering up the pivots D and the parts connected therewith at the upper ends of the bars E. (See Figs. l and 3.)

It is understood that the bows C8 and C12 are covered with the usual material to complete the top.

When the bars F. have moved into an uppermost position and the top has been extended, as described and shown in Fig. 2, then a snap-bolt H, carried in one side of the seatframe B2, engages an aperture in one of the bars E to lock the latter in place to prevent the top from accidentally folding up.

The lower end of the bottom section C is provided with a bow, pivotally connected at its upper end to the extreme upper ends of the bars E abovelthe pivots D, so as to hold this section properly extended when the other sections are raised and swung forward, as previously explained. The materialcovering the bow has its side flaps covered with rubber bands C15, connected to the lower ends of the rods G2, the lower edges of said sides extending within the seat-casing B2 when the top is extended to prevent rain from driving upon the seat B4.

A friction-roller' C16 is preferably journaled on the inside and middle portion of the lowermost bow C5 to'ride against one of the guidearms B5 and insure a proper movement of the section C2 to and from the seat-casing B2.

It is expressly understood that when the bars E move upward they bodily carry the top along, and when the nut G3 strikes the bearing G4 then a swinging motion is given to the top sections C3 to bringv the same out from the section C2 and to then pull the section C2 along-that is, swing it forwardly to its extended position indicated in Fig. 2. The

lowermost folding section C', by its bow, readily moves into an extended position by its own Weight.

The device is very simple and durable in construction, can be readily manipulated by the occupant of the seat, and the top is completely out of sight when folded up into the casing B2. As the top forms a fixture of the seat, it can be readily taken off from the wagon-body and placed upon another whenever desired or stored away with the seat.

Having thus fully described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patenti l. Avehicle-top, comprisinganon-collapsible section mounted to swing, a'folding section hung loosely on the lower end of the non-collapsible section, and a second section adapted to swing over the upper end of the said non-collapsible section, substantially as shown and described.

2. Avehicle-top, comprising a non-collapsible section mounted to swing, a folding section hung loosely on the lower end of the noncollapsible section, a second section adapted to swing over the upper end of the said noncollapsible section, and a connection between the top and the middle section, to move the latter into final position by the top section, substantially as shown and described.

3. A vehicle-top having a non-collapsible A section mounted to swing, asection connected with the non-collapsible section, and adapted to swing over the same and having a swinging motion independent, thereof, and means for raising the top and giving an independ ent swinging motion to the top section, substantially as shown and described.

4. A device of the class described, provided with bars fitted to slide, means for imparting motion thereto, a non-collapsible middle section hung on the said bars, a top section connected with the said non-collapsible section, crank-arms connected with the outer bow of the top section, rods connected with the said crank-arms, and fixed stops for engaging the rods and limiting their upward sliding motion, to impart movement to the crank-arms for extending the top section and swinging the non-collapsible middle section into nal position, substantially asv shown and described.

5. A device of the class described, provided with rack-bars mounted to slide up and down, a bow fulcrumed in the said bars, crank-arms extending from the fulcrum ends of the said bars, a rod connected with the said bow, and a stop for limiting the movement of the rod tov impart aswinging motion to the bow upon farther upward movement of the bars, substantially as shown and described.

6. A device of the class described, providedl with bars fitted to slide, means for imparting motion thereto, a non-collapsible middle section hung on the said bars, a top section con nected with the said non-collapsible section, crank-arms connected with the outer bow of the top section, rods connected with the said crank-arms, fixed stops for engaging the rods and limiting their upward sliding motion, to impart movement to the crank-arms forextending the top section and swinging the nonoollapsible middle section into final position, and a lower folding-section hung loosely on the lower end ofthe non-collapsible section, and having a bow carried by the bars, substantially as shown and described.

7. The combination of a seat-frame, oomprising a base and an outer easing, the said frame being adapted to be removably rested on a vehicle, a folding top carried on the seatiraine and capable of folding within said outer easing, and means also carried on the seatframe by which said top may be manipulated.

S. The combination of a seat-frame oomprising a base and an outer easing, the seatframe being capable of resting removably on a vehicle, and a folding top carried by the seat-frame and capable of folding within the outer casing thereof.

9. The combination of a seat frame or support, a bar movable vertically thereon, a folding top carried by-the bar, and means in oonneotion with said top by which to extend the same, such means being also in connection with the seat-frame and serving to extend the top as the bar is moved vertically.

lO. The combination of a seat frame or support, a bar vertically movable thereon, a folding top carried by the bar, a crank-arm in oonneotion with the folding top, a rod attached tosaid arm and extending downwardly, and having slidin g Connection with the seat-frame, and a bearing on the seat-frame adapted to be engaged by the rod as the rod moves upwardly with the bar, whereby to stop the movement of the vrod and throw the crank-arm to extend the said folding top.

MORRIS KASSMAYER.

Witnesses:

THEO. G. I-IosTER, JNO. M. RITTER. 

